Spider Crab Cam – Monterey Bay Aquarium

When a whale's life ends, its body often sinks to the seafloor—and a new story begins. The whale's nutrient-rich remains (called a whalefall) attract hungry scavengers galore, sustaining an active ecosystem around it for decades.

The gangly, glorious giants of this whalefall community are the Japanese spider crabs, with ten legs that can span up to 12 feet (3.8 meters) from claw to claw. Eight are for walking, while the other two feature claws for feeding on decaying fish, invertebrates, and algae. You may notice these animals sit still for long stretches of time. This helps them survive in the deep sea, where resources are scarce and energy must be conserved.

These crustacean sensations are not the only animals you'll see on the cam! There's a whole whalefall community living around the model bones of a young sperm whale. Take a close look and you'll spot fish and other interesting invertebrates that call the deep seafloor home.

This live camera at the Monterey Bay Aquarium lets you observe Japanese spider crabs and other deep-sea creatures in their whalefall habitat every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific time. Learn more at https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals-the-ocean/animals-a-to-z/japanese-spider-crab or explore other live cams at https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cams-videos/live-cams